"[Leo McKern and I] knew that it was going to be hammer and tongs. I mean, we were dear friends, but we couldn’t be dear friends in the midst of the show." Patrick McGoohan [x]
They brought the thing to an extraordinary pitch. [Director of photography] Brendon Stafford sent one of his assistants in to say ‘if you have any time, come in, for God’s sake, and watch this pair. They’re no longer acting; they are Number 6 and Number 2.’ I mean, it was unbelievable to watch, it was unreal. Suddenly the whole never-never thing disappeared. Robert Monks, 2nd unit camera [x]
I could see Leo fighting for his acting life on the set. I mean, this intensity went on for eight or nine days and the characters took over. It was a shock to me because I didn’t realize how roles could take over the actors, how they could be become the role they were portraying […] Just to play that role out and actually be quite dangerous, and we had to be very careful about how we finished the show with Leo, because I didn’t want an actor dying on the show. But that’s how intense it got. Bernie Williams, production manager [x]
Patrick would challenge people, and Leo McKern is a pretty tough Australian, but I think it had a pretty shattering effect on him. Kenneth Griffith, Number Two ("The Girl Who Was Death"), the President ("Fall Out") [x]
This was about two people going into a dark room and it was a locked off set, it was only a camera crew and then a few electricians and grips; and after a few days it was about Patrick wanting to break Number 2 down, but then the character took over and Patrick wanted to break the actor down. Bernie Williams [x]
And Leo, one lunchtime, went up to his dressing room and I went to see the rushes, and I knew he was tired. I went up to the dressing room to tell him how good I thought he'd been in the rushes, and he was curled up in the fetus position on his couch there, and he says, "Go away! Go away! I don't want to see you again." I said, "What are you talking about?" He says, "I've just ordered two doctors," he says, "and they're coming over as soon as they can." He says, "Go away." And he had. He'd ordered two doctors and they came over that afternoon and he didn't work for three days. He'd gone! He'd cracked, which was very interesting. It was terrific pressure, you see. Patrick McGoohan [x]
I used to get very depressed, I remember. I used to lie in my dressing room mainly in the short times we had off and worry and be depressed and very silent. Certainly when one is shouted at, it doesn’t inspire one to do anything except withdrawal into oneself. But that was great fun, I must say, even though it was agony. Leo McKern [x]
Part One
kaledo-art
romaincrisis
origamiaround
yousharknotpass
